ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002634 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/SE, EUR/PD, NEA/PD, DRL JCS PASS J-5/CDR S. WRIGHT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR TU SUBJECT: ANKARA MEDIA REACTION REPORT MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2007 Turkey Outraged at PKK's Killing of 12 Soldiers All papers report the Turkish General Staff (TGS) announced that 12 soldiers were killed, 16 were wounded and eight were missing after clashes with PKK terrorists in Hakkari province on the border with Iraq. Some 250 PKK members crossed into Turkey from northern Iraq and attacked an infantry brigade in Daglica region of Hakkari province in the early hours of October 21. In a statement posted on its website the Turkish General Staff reported that 32 terrorists were killed in the ensuing pursuit. Emergency talks were held on Sunday night to plot Turkey's response to the attack. After the talks - which included President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Erdogan, the head of the Turkish General Staff (TGS) Yasar Buyukanit and other top security officials - a statement released from the president's office said, "Turkey respects the territorial integrity of Iraq. Turkey, however, will not shy away from paying whatever price is necessary to protect its rights, its indivisible unity and its citizens." President Abdullah Gul told the press before the emergency summit that Turkey did not have designs on Iraq's territory. "However, if Iraq keeps harboring terrorists, Turkey has the right to destroy this threat. Turkey's fully determined in this matter; the parliament has already authorized actions to be taken if necessary." Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul told the press in Kiev after talks with Defense Secretary Robert Gates that Turkey was planning a cross-border incursion, but "not urgently." "We'd like to do these things with the Americans," added Gonul. Prime Minister Erdogan said after the summit meeting that Secretary Rice had asked Turkey not to take action against the PKK terrorists, and give the US "a few days." Opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal said a "covert war" was waged against Turkey and called for a cross-border incursion. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said the government should not delay further the launch of cross-border operations against the PKK, and that Turkish authorities also should consider measures such as a declaration of emergency rule in the region. Erdogan responded to Bahceli, "Not emotions but common sense should prevail in the struggle against terrorism. We cannot declare a state of emergency just because some people demand it." Iraq's government said on Sunday it was taking important steps to end the "terrorist actions" of the PKK. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's office said in a statement Iraq condemned the PKK. In a joint news conference with Kurdistan regional president Massoud Barzani, President Jalal Talabani refused a demand to hand the PKK elements over to Turkey, calling it "a dream that will never come true." Talabani statement that "we will not even hand over a Kurdish cat, let alone a man" was termed provocative by the Turkish press. Talabani renewed calls for the PKK to end violence. In an interview with private television channel Kanal D late Sunday night, Talabani said they could not arrest PKK leaders hiding in the mountains, "out of Iraq's range of authority." He said Turkish soldiers have not crossed the Iraqi border yet, and noted they asked Turkey to work in cooperation with the Iraqi government. Kurdish regional government leader Massoud Barzani said Turkey should offer the PKK peace, and that the PKK could be called terrorist if they reject the offer. "We are not going to be caught up in the PKK and Turkish war, but if the Kurdistan region is targeted, we are going to defend ourselves," Barzani told reporters after meeting with Talabani. Papers report President Bush on Sunday condemned as "unacceptable" attacks by the PKK and said they must stop. "President Bush strongly condemns the violent attacks in Hakkari province and extends his condolences to the families who lost loved ones and to ANKARA 00002634 002 OF 003 all the people of Turkey," White House National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in a statement. Papers also report Ambassador Ross Wilson's statement that he is "committed to working with Turkey and Turkish authorities to eliminate the PKK terrorist threat to the people of Turkey." "Turkey is outraged, our patience comes to an end," say papers on Monday, reporting that in several provinces tens of thousands took to the streets Sunday to condemn the attack on Turkish soldiers. Mainstream Hurriyet says in a page one headline, "We are behind you. The Turkish people rally tightly behind their army and parliament." "Enough already!" says a Cumhuriyet banner headline, denouncing the "treacherous" ambush that has killed 12 soldiers. Under the headline "All of Turkey protests," liberal Radikal reports spontaneous protest rallies across Turkey. Editorial Commentary on Iraq/PKK Gungor Mengi commented in the mainstream Vatan (10/22): "These days are filled with colossal sadness and fury. Things can become very destructive unless this sentiment is controlled properly. It is certainly unacceptable to be attacked heinously, but it is also wrong to lose common sense in reaction. PKK wants to drag Turkey into northern Iraq and become part of the quagmire. Therefore, we have to make the right decision. Are we going to continue ignoring Barzani, or are we going to find ways for cooperation with him? The local Iraqi administration in the north is obviously making politics about PKK, but the overall goals of the PKK and the northern Iraqi administration are not necessarily parallel to each other. The local administration does not want to be a subject of Turkey's military operation or experience an embargo by Turkey. It is expected that PKK will orchestrate even more violent attacks to get Turkey to run out of patience. This is a provocative act to drag Turkey in there. We have to be very careful. In fact, since the US is responsible for this ongoing bloody and treacherous game we better listen to what Washington has in mind about what to do. Thus, the upcoming meeting between PM Erdogan and President Bush is very important." Semih Idiz wrote in the mainstream Milliyet (10/22): "It is very important that PM Erdogan made a call to PKK members to lay down arms and suggested they should try politics. Given the circumstances of violent attacks and fury, the PM's statement is an indication of political courage. The fact of the matter is that when we think about the deep roots of the problem, political, social and economic steps are really needed. We should not consider such steps as bowing to the terrorist PKK. The UK set a good example on this. The IRA issue was resolved through such steps. All of this does not mean that Turkey has to underplay the security aspect of terrorism, but the fight against terror cannot be limited to that only. The struggle has other aspects as well." People Vote "Yes" in the Referendum for Constitutional Amendment All papers report that even though the referendum was overshadowed by the terrorist attack in Hakkari, voter turnout was still 67 percent. Sixty-nine percent of the electors said 'yes" while 31 percent said "no". The amendment package allows the election of future presidents by popular vote; foresees that general elections are held every four years instead of five; the presidential term is lowered from the current seven years to five; the president can stand for re-election for a second term; and a quorum of one-third of the total number of MPs is required to open a parliamentary debate. PM Erdogan held a press conference after the results were announced and said that the referendum will contribute to the stability of the country. US Troops Killed A Turkish Truck Driver Hurriyet, Bugun, Posta: A Turkish truck diver from Kilis, 24 year old Muhammet Gani Ikidisli, was transporting goods to a US base in northern Iraq. On October 10, while driving from Dohuk to Mosul in a US convoy, his truck broke down. While he was trying to repair ANKARA 00002634 003 OF 003 his truck, a few US soldiers from the convoy who were annoyed with the situation came next to the driver, shot him and continued driving. Mr. Ikidisli was taken to the hospital in Dohok by Iraqi people, but died in the hospital a few days after the incident. Hurriyet says that the driver's father brought his son's body to Diyarbakir for an autopsy and buried him in their hometown, Kilis. TV News: NTV Domestic News - Prime Minister Erdogan said after consultations with colleagues that he would not change his plans to travel to Britain, and will depart after the Council of Ministers meeting Monday. Erdogan said he will deliver a lecture at Oxford University on Monday evening, and meet with the British and Israeli prime ministers on Tuesday. - Turkish Ambassador to the US, Nabi Sensoy, returned to the US on Sunday. "I hope that the time I spent in Turkey has been a serious message showing our strong reaction. I will now continue working to further the Turkey-US ties," Said Sensoy. - The strike of Turk Telekom workers has been marred by reports of alleged sabotage by the workers. International News - French President Sarkozy said no new chapters of Turkey's accession talks with the EU will be opened before the bloc makes a decision about the appointment of a group of wise men to study Europe's long-term future and borders. - Iran's Foreign Ministry said Ali Larijani, who resigned as the country's top nuclear negotiator, would attend talks on Tuesday in Rome alongside Iran's new top negotiator, Saeed Jalili, and the EU's foreign policy chief. - The exit poll results show the right wing Swiss People's Party and the Greens as the main winners in Swiss elections. WILSON